Free Masquerading the Marquess by Anne Mallory Page A

Success.
     
    She walked forward and hit an object with her right foot. She stumbled forward and her left foot tangled in the lowered hem of her dress. Damn roots. She hadn’t seen them this afternoon.
     
    She was going down.
     
    She threw her arms in front of her to break the fall, but something grabbed her across the chest. A warm arm. The action allowed her to regain her footing and stand upright. The arm released her slowly, sliding across her chest and leaving sharp tingles in its wake.
     
    A long shadowy leg lifted, bent at the knee and rested on top of the bench. There was no other movement. The mysterious root had been a foot.
     
    "I believe the other two benches are empty . "
     
    It was Angelford, of course. No one else could possibly be a better witness to her embarrassment.
     
    "What are you doing here?" The words were out before she thought better of speaking. She could picture his raised brow, but could barely discern his form stretched out on the stone.
     
    "I will confess after you do."
     
    "It is a good night for stargazing. What is your excuse?"
     
    There was a marked hesitation. "That is mine as well."
     
    She didn’t believe it for a second. Her eyes started to adjust. She located another bench and sat. "Marvellous. Which constellations have you spotted?"
     
    "Ursa Major, Cassiopeia, Cancer, Leo . . ." He rattled off a dozen and she was glad the darkness hid her dropped jaw.
     
    "I’m still trying to find Hydra. Can you help?" The voice dripped sarcasm.
     
    "Very amusing."
     
    Calliope gazed up into the night, and after a few minutes spotted the multi-headed serpent. "Well, Hercules, if you found Leo and Cancer, just look south. Perhaps you’d have more luck looking for Virgo. It’s in the same region." Give him something to think about.
     
    "What game are you playing?"
     
    "I have no idea." It was the truth.
     
    " l give you fair warning. You won’t like it when I uncover your scheme. Hercules slew the Hydra."
     
    Calliope drew herself up. Stargazing had lost its appeal. "Hercules also made sure two heads didn’t sprout from each one he cut off. Good night, my lord."
     
    She walked through the hedges and back inside the inn. Nightmares of Hercules slaying the Hydra plagued her sleep.
     

Chapter 4
     
    James tossed the paper to the floor the next evening. A second caricature, this one less flattering than the last.
     
    "What’s wrong, James?"
     
    Stella kneaded the muscles in his shoulders. The massage felt good, but he wanted to be tense. Too many things were upsetting him since their return from Newmarket .
     
    " That damn Thomas Landes. I’m going to wring his neck."
     
    Stella gracefully picked up the paper. "Not very fitting. Where does this man get his ideas?"
     
    James threw up his hands. "I’ve no idea. I instructed Finn to look into the matter. I’ll know soon."
     
    She tapped the paper thoughtfully. "Maybe you should look at the situations depicted. Where are the ideas spawned?"
     
    James had already tried, but the pictures, though brilliantly rendered and emotional in nature, were vague. “Any number of people with an active imagination could have culled these. The drawings don’t give me any more clues to the artist’s identity. "
     
    "You are awfully interested in this artist."
     
    "I’ve never been under attack before."
     
    Stella hesitated. "James, I know you didn’t come here to discuss these terrible drawings. Why don’t we finish the business and have an enjoyable dinner?"
     
    She knew. "Stella, I-"
     
    "I know, dear. I’ve seen the way you look at her.
     
    And the way she tries to hide her interest. If she were free of Stephen I would give you my blessing, for I quite like the girl." Stella hesitated again. "I hope you don’t mind my bluntness, but something is wrong with the situation."
     
    He waved her on, already in a mild sort of shock.
     
    "She’s not . . . she’s not one of us. It’s not that she doesn’t behave like she is,